Will US-Taliban deal limit India's leverage in Afghanistan?

[MenInG]

Kabul, Afghanistan - A week after a US-led invasion overthrew the Taliban regime in November 2001, a plane carrying a small delegation of Indian diplomats landed in Bagram airbase, north of Kabul, the born-again capital of the newly-liberated country.

It marked New Delhi's re-entry in Afghanistan - five years after it was forced to escape the country - after Taliban assumed power in Kabul on September 26, 1996.

The Taliban was defeated by Afghanistan's Northern Alliance forces helped by the US-led NATO forces in the wake of the deadly attacks on US soil in September 2001.

"When we returned to Afghanistan, the perception of India was mixed," recalled former Indian ambassador to Afghanistan, Gautam Mukhopadhya, who was part of the first delegation that arrived in Kabul in 2001.

The daylong visit was among the first diplomatic missions to have arrived in the Afghan capital to reopen their embassy, signifying the strategic importance of Afghanistan for India.

Cultivated a strong relationship

Since then, India has cultivated a strong relationship with successive Afghan governments, investing heavily in the development and infrastructure of the war-ravaged country, with the total aid of nearly $2bn since 2001, the largest that New Delhi has contributed to any nation.

"For the victorious Northern Alliance and their constituents and supporters, we were allies. But for a lot of ordinary Afghans who opposed the PDPA [People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan], we had to overcome a trust-deficit going back to our support for the latter," Mukhopadhya, who is now a senior fellow at the Center for Policy Research, told Al Jazeera.

The PDPA was a pro-USSR party under whose government Afghanistan was invaded by Soviet forces in December 1979. The United States intervened in the Afghan civil war, supplying arms and ammunition to fighters or mujahideen against Soviet occupation.

Much of mistrust was overcome with a combination of support for anti-Taliban forces, humanitarian initiatives, scholarships and, of course, the popularity of Indian popular culture, especially Bollywood, he added.

Return of Taliban?

Nearly 20 years later, India has a mounting diplomatic challenge as the Taliban, which New Delhi has despised, appears to be making a comeback to Kabul's power corridor.

Despite significant investments and interests in Afghanistan, India has largely stayed out of the Afghan peace negotiation between the US and the Taliban armed group, that started nearly two years ago and culminated in a deal on February 29.

And now with the US withdrawal under way, and a potential start of the intra-Afghan talks, India has to find its place in the post-peace geopolitics of the region.

For those watching the developments closely remain deeply concerned over the future of India's stakes in the extremely fragile and dynamic situation.

"New Delhi has backed Afghanistan's democratic system, and put its weight behind the presidency of Ashraf Ghani," said Kabir Taneja, a security analyst and a fellow at the Observer Research Foundation.

"However, even as an expected actor in an event such as talks with the Taliban, New Delhi unfortunately built limited capacities over the years for its opinion to be strong enough to be a by definition regional player in helping Afghanistan politically," he said.

With much to lose, India has kept a watchful eye on the negotiations, participated in the talks in Moscow and was even invited to the signing of the deal between the US and the Taliban in the Qatari capital Doha.

"It can be argued whether India has been able to convert this political capital into strategic assets and value, but to my mind, we have deliberately not played our strategic cards in Afghanistan. We are capable of doing so," Mukhopadhya said, adding that if the Taliban and Afghan leadership sit down and talk, India will definitely support such talks.

Hekmatullah Azamy, deputy director at the Centre for Conflict and Peace Studies in Kabul, said India will have to undoubtedly start a dialogue with the Taliban. "It also needs to be seen if the Taliban will be open to talking to them," he said.

"Taliban's relationship with Pakistan and militant groups in the region will have a huge impact on the future of India in Afghanistan," Azamy said, adding that while Taliban in the 1990s was far more independent of foreign influence, they still leaned towards Pakistan on policies related to India.

Both Kabul and New Delhi have accused Islamabad of backing armed groups - charges Pakistan has denied.

"And in turn, Pakistan would use the Afghan territory against India, such as during the [Indian] plane highjack [in 1999]. In contrast, the Taliban is far less independent and under Pakistan influence giving them far more say in dictating policies towards India such as those related to [disputed] Kashmir et al. So the situation could be worse than it was in 1990s," Azamy speculated.

India's cautious approach

Indeed, New Delhi's caution is tied to the role that Pakistan played in its backing of the US-Taliban talks, raising concerns that it could potentially be sidelined in a post-peace Afghanistan.

"Indian investments in Afghanistan are for the people of Afghanistan. Pakistan will of course try its best to sideline or harm these investments but popular support for them and India will remain," Mukhopadhya, the former Indian diplomat, said.

However, considering these dynamics, the eventual peace deal is likely to limit not just India's leverage in post-peace Afghanistan, but also the work they do in the country.

"Even in the best of scenarios, it is unlikely that Taliban would be open to working with India. For instance, the Taliban may not want the army cadets to be trained in India," Azamy said.

Already, as the US begins withdrawal of its forces from Afghanistan, Indian-led projects are bound to face the heat.

India appears less than convinced that the conditions for peace talks exist.

"India's Afghan outreach, that of developmental aid, people to people contact and so on relied on the security cover provided by the US and its allies. With that gone, the policies of New Delhi will need a serious re-visit," Taneja, the foreign policy expert, pointed out.

"[Joining the talks] was never going to be an easy decision to make for India, but the lack of it also limits New Delhi's strategic scope if the Taliban is indeed mainstreamed in some capacity in Afghan electoral politics. It remains unclear whether such clarity on 'what to do next' on Afghanistan in wake of the US-Taliban deal exists in way of a confident and clear strategic road map," he added.

However, Mukhopadhya argues that India's cautious approach is calculated and not lack of strategy.

"India appears less than convinced that the conditions for peace talks exist," he says. "Even today, with differences over prisoner release, increased attacks against the ANDSF [Afghan forces], refusal of the Taliban to recognise the Afghan government, and the political divisions among democratic forces, there are questions whether such talks can even get started. India's caution is therefore justified."

"[New] Delhi is aware of what is happening, and prepared but not alarmed over the situation," he says.

However, as intra-Afghan talks trudge forward, India is at a crucial crossroads that will set the tone for its future involvement in Afghanistan, and by extension in regional security.

But much will depend on the Taliban's place in the power structure, the former Indian diplomat said.

"If [the Taliban come] through a military takeover, as it was last time, we should be prepared for the worst, but if it is as an outcome of, or through intra-Afghan talks, a modus vivendi can be found," Mukhopadhya said.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020...dia-leverage-afghanistan-200408110120625.html

 

[KingKhanWC]

India can never continue influence in Afghanistan after such a deal. They will use their cowboy intelligence agency to cause issues, such as bombings etc but they are alreadly on their way home to Bombay.

 

[Napa]

The less influence India has on Afghanistan or other countries in that region the better. There is no benefit to the common Indians by engaging, the only Indians who want to be there are the Indian Foreign Service who want to be relevant in useless countries.

 

[Yossarian]

Reading the OP, it sounds as if India's making strenuous efforts to try and ensure that the Taliban & Afghan govt. talks fail.
If India does succeed in scuppering these talks and Trump is denied his "I said I will get our boys out and stop our brave American soldiers dying in Afghanistan", hopefully someone will inform Trump as to who engineered that.

 

[Sirris]

It has been almost 7 months since elections were held in Afghanistan. Right now, Afghanistan has two Presidents: Ashraf Ghani and Dr. Abdullah Abdullah.

This alone should tell you about the state of affairs in Afghanistan. The Kabul elites are fighting among themselves how are they going to fight Taliban effectively. Many foreign personal are tired of the internal fights. Trump wants to leave Afghanistan with or without a proper peace deal.

 

[Manunited18]

India can never continue influence in Afghanistan after such a deal. They will use their cowboy intelligence agency to cause issues, such as bombings etc but they are alreadly on their way home to Bombay.

Yep and with the tail between their legs

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

The less influence India has on Afghanistan or other countries in that region the better. There is no benefit to the common Indians by engaging, the only Indians who want to be there are the Indian Foreign Service who want to be relevant in useless countries.

They have spent $2bn+ in Afghanistan this money should have been invested in Indian taxpayers' children.

Afghanistan remains unstable since forever.

Both Pakistan and India should stay away from Afghanistan and let Afghans solve their problems.

Pakistan should only help Afghan refugees who are fleeing war, on humanitarian/Islamic basis. Nothing more.

 

[Napa]

They have spent $2bn+ in Afghanistan this money should have been invested in Indian taxpayers' children.

Afghanistan remains unstable since forever.

Both Pakistan and India should stay away from Afghanistan and let Afghans solve their problems.

Pakistan should only help Afghan refugees who are fleeing war, on humanitarian/Islamic basis. Nothing more.

I agree. It was wrong of India to spend so much money on Afghanistan (though I think it is a lot less than $20 billion) when there are many poor people in India. I honestly don't think what the Indian Foreign Service bureaucrats thought they would get out of Afghanistan. That country has a lot of growing up to do before it can be a reliable partner. Best to let them stew in their own juice till they get some sense, if ever.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

I agree. It was wrong of India to spend so much money on Afghanistan (though I think it is a lot less than $20 billion) when there are many poor people in India. I honestly don't think what the Indian Foreign Service bureaucrats thought they would get out of Afghanistan. That country has a lot of growing up to do before it can be a reliable partner. Best to let them stew in their own juice till they get some sense, if ever.

I got the 2 billion dollar from article.

Since then, India has cultivated a strong relationship with successive Afghan governments, investing heavily in the development and infrastructure of the war-ravaged country, with the total aid of nearly $2bn since 2001, the largest that New Delhi has contributed to any nation.

And yeah, I think maybe they thought that things will stable and they will have a future trade partner.

A prayer for a peaceful Afghanistan!

 

[Napa]

I got the 2 billion dollar from article.

My mistake, the $2bn figure you had quoted looks accurate. I had mistakenly read it as $20bn.

And yeah, I think maybe they thought that things will stable and they will have a future trade partner.

A prayer for a peaceful Afghanistan!

Yes, common people everywhere deserve the opportunity of a good life for themselves and their families.

 

[Napa]

I got the 2 billion dollar from article.



And yeah, I think maybe they thought that things will stable and they will have a future trade partner.

A prayer for a peaceful Afghanistan!

I should clarify, when I said "useless countries" I was referring to the leaders whose greed for wealth and power lead their countries to endless wars. The common people are the victims of the bad behavior of the leaders.

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

My mistake, the $2bn figure you had quoted looks accurate. I had mistakenly read it as $20bn.



Yes, common people everywhere deserve the opportunity of a good life for themselves and their families.

2 billions are peanuts for a country like India. For the common man it's a lot of money, but for countries it's peanuts. India GDP is 12.3 trillion.

 

[Napa]

2 billions are peanuts for a country like India. For the common man it's a lot of money, but for countries it's peanuts. India GDP is 12.3 trillion.

It is peanuts for the entire country, but for one million people it is $2,000 per head, and can be life altering.

Not that India shouldn't help other countries, but what is the use of investing in Afghanistan when a large number of Afghans want the Taliban to return, the Taliban will return, and it will resume its hostility to India?

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

It is peanuts for the entire country, but for one million people it is $2,000 per head, and can be life altering.

Not that India shouldn't help other countries, but what is the use of investing in Afghanistan when a large number of Afghans want the Taliban to return, the Taliban will return, and it will resume its hostility to India?

The Large majority of Afghans view India/Indians much more positively than Pakistan.
Pakistan has invested in Taliban as well to get influence in Afghanistan.
I think India strategy will bear more fruit in the future.
Taliban has no future in Afghanistan unless they change dramatically.
Their purpose is pretty much gone now that Americans are leaving Afghanistan. They cannot talk about Jihad anymore.

 

[MenInG]

Sunrays shine through colourful pieces of cloth, illuminating the face of Miya Gul with a palette of shades of red and yellow. He sits on the floor of a tent in a settlement for internally displaced people in Kabul.

For the past 14 years, the 37-year old and his family have called it home.

Miya Gul has been observing the fast from sunrise to sunset since Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, began on April 24. This year, however, the fast has lost its usual meaning.

For Miya Gul, his wife Soyra and their six children it has become just another word for starvation.

"This Ramadan is the hardest we have ever been through. If we don't find food, we're fasting round the clock," says Miya Gul.

"We buy one potato for 10 afghani [$0.13]. People who have money can buy a kilo. And we can afford only one per day."

Since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, Afghanistan has been on a brink of economic collapse. The lockdown and state-imposed quarantine have forced many businesses to close.

According to data by the Biruni Institute, a local economic think-tank, as a result of the pandemic, six million people have already lost their jobs in a country, where 80 percent of people live below the poverty line.

Grim prospects

The prospects are grim. With the main donors focusing on battling the virus at home, low resource economies like Afghanistan have been left with little outside support.

Last month, the United States reduced funding for Afghanistan by $1bn after the country's top leaders publicly feuded over government formation following contested presidential elections in September 2019.

The crisis hit poor families, like Miya Gul's, the most. For those who rely on daily work for survival, the lockdown has meant no income.

Before the pandemic, Miya Gul used to work at the local bazaar helping vendors transport their products.

Now, as the crisis has affected everyone, few people need his services.

"Last year, my income was around 300 afghani [$3.70] a day. Now there is no work, and if there is, I earn around 50 afghani [$0.66]," says Miya Gul.

"We have to send our children to work in the streets. We buy food for whatever money they make. Our daughter Nodira sometimes gets a potato or a tomato at the bazaar. She is seven years old."

Appeal for help

Over the past weeks, the prices of food and other necessities have increased, too. Before Ramadan, a canister of water, Miya Gul said, used to cost five afghani ($0.07).

Now the price has increased twofold. As water in the camp is scarce, Miya Gul and his family cannot keep the level of hygiene needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Behind a wall surrounding the camp, waste is piling up. The authorities usually remove it after two or three days. The residents do not know why this time it has been there for a month.

"This year because of the coronavirus everything has changed, Ramadan too," says Dr Aminuddin Muzafary, deputy minister of Hajj and religious affairs sitting in his office in central Kabul.

"We have asked imams to send a message to people during Friday prayers that those who are rich should help the poor. Mosques are not only places of worship but also community spaces. 10,000 tons of wheat have already been distributed to people through mosques."

Those more fortunate and local aid groups rushed to support those in need, too, organising food handouts to ease the pressure on the starving nation.

People forced to beg

In Kabul, the local government distributed wheat to impoverished families and have coordinated efforts with the private sector to give away packs of rice, flour and oil.

"During the month of Ramadan, we are working with Kabul municipality to establish local Shura committees which would help to identify people in need. We are planning to work with bakeries so that the families identified by the Shuras receive free bread," Nabiullah Peerkhail, chief of staff of the Kabul province, told Al Jazeera.

"In districts, we are collecting lists of people in need to distribute food items there too."

The initiatives, however, while widespread, are not enough. Poverty and unemployment coupled with the rapidly spreading coronavirus is more than the country can take at once.

Despite lockdown, many people have returned to the streets - this time to beg. With the dire economic situation, many say, if the coronavirus does not kill them, poverty will.

In another settlement for internally displaced people, Inzar Gul Safi, recalls that for the past five years, his community has received no food assistance during Ramadan. This year, the situation in his camp has been worse than ever.

"Older people are patient but children do not understand what's going on, they keep on asking for food," he told Al Jazeera.

"We have no oil, no bread and so far no coronavirus. The government recommends that we should take Vitamin C, eat oranges, to protect ourselves. But how can we afford it?"

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020...dan-coronavirus-lockdown-200430114049678.html

 

[chacha kashmiri]

Indian Congress were openly behind the northern alliance
The taliban have never said anything on India apart from very recently

The days of Afghan warlords converging on the streets of Delhi to rescue young Mughal puppet shah's orchestrated by Peshas while using the treasure to rebuild Afghanistan are long dead

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

The Large majority of Afghans view India/Indians much more positively than Pakistan.
Pakistan has invested in Taliban as well to get influence in Afghanistan.
I think India strategy will bear more fruit in the future.
Taliban has no future in Afghanistan unless they change dramatically.
Their purpose is pretty much gone now that Americans are leaving Afghanistan. They cannot talk about Jihad anymore.

That's only because they believe a large part of Pakistan belongs to Afghanistan. Prior to the creation of Pakistan, Afghans natural enemy was India. If Pakistan disappeared off the map, hostilities would only resume as previously.

You are talking nonsense to be frank. If a large part of Afghanistan was pro India, Taliban would be wiped out already, but in reality they are in almost total control. This type of misinformation is why the Americans are desperate to get out of there. They have been misled by Afghan minorities who continue to spin lies like this.

 

[Napa]

The Large majority of Afghans view India/Indians much more positively than Pakistan.
Pakistan has invested in Taliban as well to get influence in Afghanistan.
I think India strategy will bear more fruit in the future.
Taliban has no future in Afghanistan unless they change dramatically.
Their purpose is pretty much gone now that Americans are leaving Afghanistan. They cannot talk about Jihad anymore.

I agree with most of what you say and hope that is the future.

However, once the Taliban returns there will definitely be a period of time when they will resume their brutality towards their domestic opponents like they did 20 years ago. It remains to be seen how long this sad chapter will last for Afghanistan and when the people will finally have peace and prosperity.

 

[Napa]

The taliban have never said anything on India apart from very recently

Not really.

"Indian Airlines Flight 814"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Airlines_Flight_814

"Terror Trail Leads from Kabul to Kashmir"
https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/terror-trail-leads-from-kabul-to-kashmir/

"Next wave of 400 Jaish terrorists for Kashmir could be from its Afghan camps"
https://www.hindustantimes.com/indi...fghan-camps/story-MUJTQWvy4LtMC7nLHKVRFL.html

etc.

 

[chacha kashmiri]

Not really.

"Indian Airlines Flight 814"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Airlines_Flight_814

"Terror Trail Leads from Kabul to Kashmir"
https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/terror-trail-leads-from-kabul-to-kashmir/

"Next wave of 400 Jaish terrorists for Kashmir could be from its Afghan camps"
https://www.hindustantimes.com/indi...fghan-camps/story-MUJTQWvy4LtMC7nLHKVRFL.html

etc.

The first one actually shows taliban being taken hostage by the militants too, they tried landing on other countries other than Afghanistan
The second one is a bunch of mish mash about al qaeda
And the third one has only been reported in the hindustan times

Here's some other articles

Rational pathways - https://www.hindustantimes.com/indi...ays-taliban/story-P0agCPy1Gu8nQ53OtJBZlO.html

The taliban and deoband school
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p03w5zz6

Ahmed rashid - https://asiasociety.org/new-york/ahmed-rashid-afghan-taliban-dont-see-india-their-enemy

 

[MenInG]

Afghanistan has recovered 18 bodies of migrants who were allegedly beaten and tortured before being forced into a river by Iranian border guards last week, a senior Afghan official said on Friday.

Afghan authorities are investigating claims the migrants drowned while illegally crossing into neighbouring Iran from the western Herat province.

"Out of 55 Afghan migrants who were forced into the river, we have so far recovered 18 bodies," Abdul Ghani Noori, the governor of Gulran district bordering Iran, told AFP news agency.

He said six migrants were still missing while others survived. The bodies "bear signs of beating and torture," Noori said.

"Based on the accounts of survivors and the marks on the bodies of the victims, they were first lashed with wire cables by the Iranian border guards and then forced at gunpoint to jump into the river," he said.

Afghanistan's Independent Human Rights Commission said last week the Iranian guards made the migrants cross the Harirud river and "as a result, a number of them drowned".

Iranian authorities have dismissed the claims, saying the incident occurred inside Afghanistan's territory.

The United States, which frequently trades threats with Iran and has imposed strict sanctions on the country, has backed the Kabul administration's decision to investigate the incident.

"Iran's cruel treatment and abuse of Afghan migrants alleged in these reports is horrifying," US Acting Assistant Secretary for South Asia Alice Wells said on Twitter earlier this week.

"Those found guilty of such abuse must be held accountable."

Between 1.5 million and three million Afghan refugees are living and working in Iran, most of them as wage labourers on construction projects.

Tens of thousands returned to Afghanistan after the coronavirus outbreak, but as restrictions ease in badly hit Iran, many are again seeking work there.

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

That's only because they believe a large part of Pakistan belongs to Afghanistan. Prior to the creation of Pakistan, Afghans natural enemy was India. If Pakistan disappeared off the map, hostilities would only resume as previously.

You are talking nonsense to be frank. If a large part of Afghanistan was pro India, Taliban would be wiped out already, but in reality they are in almost total control. This type of misinformation is why the Americans are desperate to get out of there. They have been misled by Afghan minorities who continue to spin lies like this.

How does the fact that Afghans are pro India have a connection to Taliban being whiped out?

Taliban want to do Jihad in Afghanistan and throw Americans out. Their whole narrative was to get foreign invaders out. Now they have agreement with US and they are gonna leave soon.

What is Talibans agenda now?
If current government are American puppets then everyone knows Taliban are Pakistani puppets.

Now don't throw bullcrap out that Taliban is in almost total control. What is total control? They don't have Kabul, Nangarhar, Herat, Paktiya, Balkh, Badakhshan all the big provinces in Afghanistan. In fact they don't have total control over even 1 province. They are in the shadows here and there, but they have far from full control.

And what is Taliban economy based on? Or economy plan? So far they have been surviving of drug and Pakistani money.

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

That's only because they believe a large part of Pakistan belongs to Afghanistan. Prior to the creation of Pakistan, Afghans natural enemy was India. If Pakistan disappeared off the map, hostilities would only resume as previously.

You are talking nonsense to be frank. If a large part of Afghanistan was pro India, Taliban would be wiped out already, but in reality they are in almost total control. This type of misinformation is why the Americans are desperate to get out of there. They have been misled by Afghan minorities who continue to spin lies like this.

Facts about your "total control" claim.
For more than four years the war has been at a stalemate, with, according to official U.S. government estimates as of 2019, only 53.8 percent of Afghan districts under government control or influence, 33.9 percent contested, and the remaining 12.3 percent under the control or influence of the Taliban.
https://www.cfr.org/interactive/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/war-afghanistan

12.3 districts under Taliban influence. They have not even full control over 1 province, but influence/control over districts.

 

[Napa]

The first one actually shows taliban being taken hostage by the militants too, they tried landing on other countries other than Afghanistan
The second one is a bunch of mish mash about al qaeda
And the third one has only been reported in the hindustan times

Here's some other articles

Rational pathways - https://www.hindustantimes.com/indi...ays-taliban/story-P0agCPy1Gu8nQ53OtJBZlO.html

The taliban and deoband school
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p03w5zz6

Ahmed rashid - https://asiasociety.org/new-york/ahmed-rashid-afghan-taliban-dont-see-india-their-enemy

Taliban of course lies through its teeth thinking that others are idiots, like they did when they claimed OBL had left and they didn't know where. The protected the hijackers but of course claimed otherwise "However, the intention of the Taliban was under doubt after its armed fighters surrounded the aircraft.[19] The Taliban maintained that the forces were deployed in an attempt to dissuade the hijackers from killing or injuring the hostages but some analysts believe it was done to prevent an Indian military operation against the hijackers.[5][4] IB chief Ajit Doval claimed that the hijackers were getting active ISI support in Kandahar and that the ISI had removed all the pressure the Indians were trying to put on the hijackers and even that their safe exit was guaranteed".

Your third link: "Chief among these differences, Rashid explained, is that the Afghan Taliban seem to have moderated their rhetoric over the last decade and emphatically do not regard India as their enemy — a stance, Rashid told his listeners, that doesn't go down well with their patrons and nominal allies in Pakistan."
After being out of power for 20 years, maybe Taliban have decided they want to be in power and antagonizing other powers will work against them. Let's see if they remain committed to this.

 

[MenInG]

In Afghanistan, seven people have been killed after police opened fire during protests over claims that food aid is being distributed unfairly amid the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a local member of parliament.

Fourteen others were wounded during the protest, sparked by growing concern that distributions have been favouring people with political connections, said Gulzaman Nayeb, a politician representing Ghor, a province in central Afghanistan.

Reuters reported that a spokesman for the provincial governor of Ghor claimed police started shooting after some of the protesters, who totalled around 300, threw stones and started firing guns, trying to enter the governor’s house. The spokesman said police were among the wounded. He denied that aid was being unfairly distributed.

Among the dead was Ahmad Naveed Khan, a local volunteer radio presenter who was sitting at his nearby shop and was hit in the head by a bullet, according to Ahmad Quraishi, the executive director of the Afghanistan Journalists Centre.

The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) said it was looking into the “worrying reports of police firing on protesters”.

The government has been distributing food aid around the country as the restrictions imposed in response to the pandemic have led to many job losses and rising food prices.

 

[chacha kashmiri]

Taliban of course lies through its teeth thinking that others are idiots, like they did when they claimed OBL had left and they didn't know where. The protected the hijackers but of course claimed otherwise "However, the intention of the Taliban was under doubt after its armed fighters surrounded the aircraft.[19] The Taliban maintained that the forces were deployed in an attempt to dissuade the hijackers from killing or injuring the hostages but some analysts believe it was done to prevent an Indian military operation against the hijackers.[5][4] IB chief Ajit Doval claimed that the hijackers were getting active ISI support in Kandahar and that the ISI had removed all the pressure the Indians were trying to put on the hijackers and even that their safe exit was guaranteed".

Your third link: "Chief among these differences, Rashid explained, is that the Afghan Taliban seem to have moderated their rhetoric over the last decade and emphatically do not regard India as their enemy — a stance, Rashid told his listeners, that doesn't go down well with their patrons and nominal allies in Pakistan."
After being out of power for 20 years, maybe Taliban have decided they want to be in power and antagonizing other powers will work against them. Let's see if they remain committed to this.

It works both ways I suppose
Maybe India will stop trying to support the communist factions within the northern alliance like they have done with Ahmad shah masood

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

How does the fact that Afghans are pro India have a connection to Taliban being whiped out?

Taliban want to do Jihad in Afghanistan and throw Americans out. Their whole narrative was to get foreign invaders out. Now they have agreement with US and they are gonna leave soon.

What is Talibans agenda now?
If current government are American puppets then everyone knows Taliban are Pakistani puppets.

Now don't throw bullcrap out that Taliban is in almost total control. What is total control? They don't have Kabul, Nangarhar, Herat, Paktiya, Balkh, Badakhshan all the big provinces in Afghanistan. In fact they don't have total control over even 1 province. They are in the shadows here and there, but they have far from full control.

And what is Taliban economy based on? Or economy plan? So far they have been surviving of drug and Pakistani money.

So are you telling me the Aghan forces (with US and Indian support) have been defeated by Pakistan puppets? Unfortunately the propaganda spouted by fringe groups in Afghanistan has never matched the reality, which is precisely why the Americans have had enough of wasting lives and resources on fighting wars for unrepresentative spokesman. No one is going to listen to this bullcrap any more, fight your own battles.

Or if you really believe this nonsense, you should suggest Indian and Afghanistan join hands if they are so friendly and crush their enemy Pakistan. Or are Pakistan so mighty both India and Afghan shake in their shoes at the prospect?

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

So are you telling me the Aghan forces (with US and Indian support) have been defeated by Pakistan puppets? Unfortunately the propaganda spouted by fringe groups in Afghanistan has never matched the reality, which is precisely why the Americans have had enough of wasting lives and resources on fighting wars for unrepresentative spokesman. No one is going to listen to this bullcrap any more, fight your own battles.

Or if you really believe this nonsense, you should suggest Indian and Afghanistan join hands if they are so friendly and crush their enemy Pakistan. Or are Pakistan so mighty both India and Afghan shake in their shoes at the prospect?

What are you talking about?
You claimed Taliban has total control in Afghanistan. How are you going to respond to that? They have 12.9% control/influence over some districts. Americans has for the past many years had relatively few forces who does not take active part in combat.

Taliban are a persistent pain in the ***. They are nowhere close to rule Afghanistan like they did in the 90's. And never will.

Their whole leadership hide in Pakistan. Afghans are not gonna accept Pakistani puppets to rule Afghanistan again.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

What are you talking about?
You claimed Taliban has total control in Afghanistan. How are you going to respond to that? They have 12.9% control/influence over some districts. Americans has for the past many years had relatively few forces who does not take active part in combat.

Taliban are a persistent pain in the ***. They are nowhere close to rule Afghanistan like they did in the 90's. And never will.

Their whole leadership hide in Pakistan. Afghans are not gonna accept Pakistani puppets to rule Afghanistan again.

They already are accepting Afghan rule if they haven't managed to defeat them. Now you are badmouthing the Americans who Afghan leaders were begging to stay otherwise Taliban will overrun the Afghan army.

Sorry bro, even the US have had enough of this nonsense, they are leaving. Land of the brave people? Need to change that username to landofthewusspeople if what you are saying is true. Fancy needing outside help and still failing to defeat tiny Pakistan's puppets (in your words).

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

They already are accepting Afghan rule if they haven't managed to defeat them. Now you are badmouthing the Americans who Afghan leaders were begging to stay otherwise Taliban will overrun the Afghan army.

Sorry bro, even the US have had enough of this nonsense, they are leaving. Land of the brave people? Need to change that username to landofthewusspeople if what you are saying is true. Fancy needing outside help and still failing to defeat tiny Pakistan's puppets (in your words).

One thing is clear. You have no idea about reality in Afghanistan and just throwing up lies to justify your agenda. Afghanistan is not overrun by Taliban. You keep ignoring the facts and just writing fantasy stuff.

Taliban leadership is hidding in Pakistan. They fly to Qatar to negotiate with Americans from Pakistan.

They are nothing more then a Pakistani proxy. They are in reality in control of around 12.9 % of Afghanistan. Their leadership does not dare to disclose their locations in Afghanistan. They have been good at hit and run. They have been good at infiltrating Afghan army and killing soldiers and running away. And that is about it.

The Afghan army has been fighting them for the past 5-6 years and(not americans) yet Taliban has not been able to take control of significant part of Afghanistan. They are not in control of 1 single province.

If you are dreaming that these Middle-earth people will be welcomed back by Afghans and run Pakistani policies in Afghanistan then you are living in fantasy.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Suffice to say I stand with the allies and back the peace deal the world leaders agree on.

 

[Sirris]

Taliban are independent group as far as their ideology and decision making is concerned. No foreign elements has been able to force them into decision if they themselves didn't want to do it beforehand.

It is always embarrassing to come across Pakistani overzealous patriots who want to portray Taliban as some kind of a Pakistani asset in Afghanistan against Indian interests.

Taliban are an indigenous movement.

At the same time Afghan nationalists with allegiance to Kabul elite also want to minimize the independent Taliban movement as a mere Pakistani proxy. They too are wrong.

 

[Sirris]

One thing is clear. You have no idea about reality in Afghanistan and just throwing up lies to justify your agenda. Afghanistan is not overrun by Taliban. You keep ignoring the facts and just writing fantasy stuff.

Taliban leadership is hidding in Pakistan. They fly to Qatar to negotiate with Americans from Pakistan.

They are nothing more then a Pakistani proxy. They are in reality in control of around 12.9 % of Afghanistan. Their leadership does not dare to disclose their locations in Afghanistan. They have been good at hit and run. They have been good at infiltrating Afghan army and killing soldiers and running away. And that is about it.

The Afghan army has been fighting them for the past 5-6 years and(not americans) yet Taliban has not been able to take control of significant part of Afghanistan. They are not in control of 1 single province.

If you are dreaming that these Middle-earth people will be welcomed back by Afghans and run Pakistani policies in Afghanistan then you are living in fantasy.

If they were Pakistani proxy then why did they not listen to give up bin Laden when the whole ISI and Pakistani leadership was begging them to do so?

If they are Pakistani proxy then why did they not for a single day fight against militants from TTP who are hostile towards Pakistan and are currently taking shelter in Kunar, Nangarhar and Paktika?

Forget fighting, Taliban have not once through their officials channels denounced TTP. At best they have condemned certain brutal attacks owned by TTP like the army public school attack in Peshawar.

Taliban have repeadtly said they want friendly ties with India. Would a Pakistani proxy say that and fear angering its masters?

Reducing Taliban as a mere Pakistani proxy is what the elite in Kabul does to fuel the war and has to a certain extent brainwashed the Afghans into believing it, since they have the higher media capability through TOLOnews etc. Ironically it's also the only thing Afghan nationalists and overzealous Pakistani patriots agree upon.

The true puppets of foreigners are the warlords of the Kabul regime. A regime which currently has two presidents. Dr Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani, while the "democratic" elections to choose a single president were held back in September 2019.

Taliban recognize that Kabul regime is merely a puppet regime and hence directly talk with the Americans. Something that cry babies in Kabul can't come to terms with. Likewise, if Taliban were merely Pakistani proxy then Americans too would be negotiating directly with the Pakistani military.

America excersises a strong control over Pakistani military and still can't make them give up Afghan Taliban, isn't that wierd? It's because behind the science both parties know what the ground realities are.

US had a whole drone campaign in Waziristan because members of Afghan Taliban and AL Qaeda fighters were taking shelter there. US would have long ago found out if there was any truth to the baseless claims that Taliban leaders are residing in Quetta under the protection of Pakistan.

After 20 years of war and blaming Pakistan, US too is forced to accept that Taliban are indeed an independent movement and therefore are forced to sit with them on the same table.

The Doha office originally opened in 2013, however many arrogant Americans back then still didn't feel humble enough to negotiate with what they considered to be a bunch of turban wearing villagers. Hence soon after the opening ohh the Doha office, Obama stopped the talks, increased the military pressure and tried to force Pakistan into making the taliban surrender. Pakistan of course was helpless.

Likewise when Trump first came to power, instead of taking troops out of Afghanistan like he promised during his campaign, he increased the troops and pressure on Pakistan. He too first thought that Taliban can be cornered by pressuring Pakistan. He too failed. However unlike Obama he doesn't seem to be interested in a never ending war.

Therefore after failing militarily he has accepted the peace negotiations and talks with Taliban.

Taliban can't overrun the country like in 90s militarily, that I agree with. However you are strongly underestimating Taliban's influence, otherwise the Kabul regime wouldn't be crying over US leaving and repeadly begging for continuous military support.

The Taliban are an independent movement. They represent a significant percentage of the rural population in Afghanistan. There is not a single thing in Taliban movement which goes against the tradition of rural Afghans. Show me one. Taliban are Afghans!

While a big chunk of Afghan nationalist on the internet and supporter of Kabul regime happen to be relatives of former leftist elite class in Kabul who supported the Soviets and were forced to flee Afghanistan. Or they are the confused youth growing up in west, scarred by endless war and see in blind ethnic nationalism the solution to their identity crisis.

The biggest obstacle in advancing the peace process right now are the warlords of Kabul regime. They have made fortune out of war and are trying their best to manipulate the peace process.

I just hope there is peace in the region. Though I see a strong polarization in the Afghan society. Not just in Taliban vs non-Taliban but also between the non-Taliban group in itself as evident by two presidents existing at the same time, a unique phenomenona in the history of democracies.

 

[MenInG]

WASHINGTON: India should speak to Taliban militants if it feels that it will help the peace process, Pakistan’s Ambassador in Washington said on Saturday.

In an interview with The Hindu, an Indian newspaper, US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad said it would be “appropriate” for an India-Taliban engagement.

“It is for India to respond to that suggestion,” Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Asad Khan told Reuters.

Asked if he was open to an Indian dialogue with the Taliban, Mr Khan said: “If India feels that their engagement is going to help the peace process, then we would defer to their judgement. But it’s not for us to sit in judgement on what they should do or they shouldn’t do.”

US sees Taliban-India parleys as ‘appropriate’

He stopped short of saying he was open to an Indian engagement with the Taliban or whether Islamabad favored such a move.

The envoy said that he would hopefully be speaking to Mr Khalilzad soon and did not go by Indian media accounts, which he said in many cases are “fanciful” and give their own interpretations.

Two attacks in Afghanistan on Tuesday have complicated the US push for peace. One attack, on a Kabul hospital’s maternity ward, killed 24 people, including two babies. Another, at a funeral in eastern Afghanistan, killed 32.

The United States has blamed the militant Islamic State for the attacks.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani ordered the military on Tuesday to switch to “offensive mode” against the Taliban following the attacks.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1557684/i...-delhi-feels-it-will-help-peace-push-pakistan

 

[Sirris]

After spreading fake news that Taliban are about to start Ghazwae Hind they have clarified their stance.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sher M. Abbas Stanekzai, Chief <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Taliban?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Taliban</a> negotiator, says if India changes its long-standing policy of supporting "a handful of traitors & puppets instead of Afghan nation", & stops pursuing its interests in Afghanistan, we are ready to engage w/ them. <br><br> <a href="https://t.co/aHCnDhaF26">https://t.co/aHCnDhaF26</a></p>— azamm عزم (@azamweb) <a href="https://twitter.com/azamweb/status/1262041756431982592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Zaid Hamid must be crying right now.

If he is so brave he should start the Ghazwa e Hind on his own, instead of pushing Afghans to fight against India for him.

 

[Varun]

Why do we care so much about Afghanistan? So that they can open up another volatile front against Pakistan to help us in our perennial quest to retain that pointless slab of ice that is Kashmir? Heh.

 

[Greenstorm]

Why do we care so much about Afghanistan? So that they can open up another volatile front against Pakistan to help us in our perennial quest to retain that pointless slab of ice that is Kashmir? Heh.

Because Afghanistan is part of your akhand Bharat project. Achey din phir aienge

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Afghan officials say that India has promised to provide $1 billion annually to Afghan Govt with forming militias in Afghanistan while also preparing for another war but India shouldn’t transfer its war to Afghanistan , Hekmatyar told <a href="https://twitter.com/SaleemKhanSafi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SaleemKhanSafi</a> Geo TV <a href="https://t.co/cu23L1m28N">https://t.co/cu23L1m28N</a></p>— Islamuddin Sajid (@islamudinsajid) <a href="https://twitter.com/islamudinsajid/status/1320061934612455431?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

India has for the first time opened channels of communication with the leadership of the Afghan Taliban, marking “a significant shift” in New Delhi's stance of not engaging with the group.

Afghanistan's Tolo News said the outreach by India is being led by the country's security officials and has been limited to groups or leaders perceived as "nationalists" or outside the influence of Pakistan and Iran.

The report, quoted by the Afghan media outlet and originally from an Indian publication, states that communication has been underway for some months and continues to be "exploratory in nature".

Among the leader's contacted is the deputy leader of the Afghan Taliban, Mullah Baradar. The report adds that though messages have been exchanged, there is no confirmation of a meeting.

“But there has been a huge shift since then and there are some who think it might be better to have a line of communication with some Taliban leaders," said the Hindustan Times in the original news report.

It added that the Haqqani network or the Quetta Shura were not contacted.

Earlier in March, Pakistani officials voiced concerns over the US proposal to invite India at the UN-sponsored meeting of regional countries aimed at adopting a “unified approach” on the Afghan endgame.

Pakistan’s opposition stems from the fact that only those countries which share borders with Afghanistan should be part of the process.

The US may withdraw all its forces from Afghanistan by July 4, well ahead of the September 11, 2021 deadline set by President Joe Biden last month.

The US began drawdown from May 1 and the process was supposed to complete by September 11, as per the revised plan given by the Biden administration.

However, the US has changed the plan and wants to leave Afghanistan at the earliest, Foreign Minister Qureshi said earlier.

The US and Nato have around 9,500 troops in Afghanistan. The accelerated withdrawal has raised fears that the country might slip into another phase of civil war.

Originally, the US was to withdraw all troops by May 1, as part of the Doha agreement signed in February 2020. However, after months of review, President Biden extended the deadline from May 1 to September 11.

The Afghan Taliban reacted sharply to the decision and termed it a violation of the Doha deal.

The insurgent group has since been refusing to join the peace efforts and unwilling to attend the Istanbul Conference being convened by the US in cooperation with Turkey, Qatar and the United Nations.

 

[Bewal Express]

India has for the first time opened channels of communication with the leadership of the Afghan Taliban, marking “a significant shift” in New Delhi's stance of not engaging with the group.

Afghanistan's Tolo News said the outreach by India is being led by the country's security officials and has been limited to groups or leaders perceived as "nationalists" or outside the influence of Pakistan and Iran.

The report, quoted by the Afghan media outlet and originally from an Indian publication, states that communication has been underway for some months and continues to be "exploratory in nature".

Among the leader's contacted is the deputy leader of the Afghan Taliban, Mullah Baradar. The report adds that though messages have been exchanged, there is no confirmation of a meeting.

“But there has been a huge shift since then and there are some who think it might be better to have a line of communication with some Taliban leaders," said the Hindustan Times in the original news report.

It added that the Haqqani network or the Quetta Shura were not contacted.

Earlier in March, Pakistani officials voiced concerns over the US proposal to invite India at the UN-sponsored meeting of regional countries aimed at adopting a “unified approach” on the Afghan endgame.

Pakistan’s opposition stems from the fact that only those countries which share borders with Afghanistan should be part of the process.

The US may withdraw all its forces from Afghanistan by July 4, well ahead of the September 11, 2021 deadline set by President Joe Biden last month.

The US began drawdown from May 1 and the process was supposed to complete by September 11, as per the revised plan given by the Biden administration.

However, the US has changed the plan and wants to leave Afghanistan at the earliest, Foreign Minister Qureshi said earlier.

The US and Nato have around 9,500 troops in Afghanistan. The accelerated withdrawal has raised fears that the country might slip into another phase of civil war.

Originally, the US was to withdraw all troops by May 1, as part of the Doha agreement signed in February 2020. However, after months of review, President Biden extended the deadline from May 1 to September 11.

The Afghan Taliban reacted sharply to the decision and termed it a violation of the Doha deal.

The insurgent group has since been refusing to join the peace efforts and unwilling to attend the Istanbul Conference being convened by the US in cooperation with Turkey, Qatar and the United Nations.

India has spent billions in Afghanistan and it fears that all will turn to dust. When your Niyaat is dishonest, you will always come unstuck sooner or later.

 

[Napa]

India has spent billions in Afghanistan and it fears that all will turn to dust. When your Niyaat is dishonest, you will always come unstuck sooner or later.

India has $600 billion in the bank so it can afford to throw a few billion.

https://tradingeconomics.com/india/foreign-exchange-reserves

Speaking of "Niyaat", on the other hand Pakistan's meddling in Afghanistan has given Pakistan a reputation of being a terrorist haven (OBL in Abbotabad and the Haqqani network), made it land on FATF lists and destroyed its economy.

 

[Napa]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Afghan officials say that India has promised to provide $1 billion annually to Afghan Govt with forming militias in Afghanistan while also preparing for another war but India shouldn’t transfer its war to Afghanistan , Hekmatyar told <a href="https://twitter.com/SaleemKhanSafi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SaleemKhanSafi</a> Geo TV <a href="https://t.co/cu23L1m28N">https://t.co/cu23L1m28N</a></p>— Islamuddin Sajid (@islamudinsajid) <a href="https://twitter.com/islamudinsajid/status/1320061934612455431?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I assume the Taliban would attack the Uzbeks, Takijs and Hazaras who form 40% of the population, so these ethnicities will need to be armed to resist the Taliban. The routes for arming these ethnicities will probably be Uzbekistan -> North Afghanistan (Uzbeks), Tajikistan -> North Afghanistan (Tajiks) and Iran -> West Afghanistan (Hazaras). All this will need money and India will likely pitch in. Afghanistan is headed for a very long period of civil war as the Taliban are unlikely to agree to share power.

 

[Bewal Express]

India has $600 billion in the bank so it can afford to throw a few billion.

https://tradingeconomics.com/india/foreign-exchange-reserves

Speaking of "Niyaat", on the other hand Pakistan's meddling in Afghanistan has given Pakistan a reputation of being a terrorist haven (OBL in Abbotabad and the Haqqani network), made it land on FATF lists and destroyed its economy.

It's because of PK that Afghans didn't end up speaking Russian. We have sacrificed too much to let Ind anywhere near. As far having billions in the bank, maybe you should be spending a few of those billions on the 800mn that are the faceless poor, the dark skinned invisibles that your country finds so revolting.

 

[Bewal Express]

I assume the Taliban would attack the Uzbeks, Takijs and Hazaras who form 40% of the population, so these ethnicities will need to be armed to resist the Taliban. The routes for arming these ethnicities will probably be Uzbekistan -> North Afghanistan (Uzbeks), Tajikistan -> North Afghanistan (Tajiks) and Iran -> West Afghanistan (Hazaras). All this will need money and India will likely pitch in. Afghanistan is headed for a very long period of civil war as the Taliban are unlikely to agree to share power.

And you care for those guys?

 

[KingKhanWC]

India has $600 billion in the bank so it can afford to throw a few billion.

https://tradingeconomics.com/india/foreign-exchange-reserves

Speaking of "Niyaat", on the other hand Pakistan's meddling in Afghanistan has given Pakistan a reputation of being a terrorist haven (OBL in Abbotabad and the Haqqani network), made it land on FATF lists and destroyed its economy.

India has used Afghanistan as a base to launch terrorist attacks against Pakistan, this is about to end. You really should be happy your nation will stop being a sponsor of terrorism or are you upset about this?

 

[Napa]

India has used Afghanistan as a base to launch terrorist attacks against Pakistan, this is about to end. You really should be happy your nation will stop being a sponsor of terrorism or are you upset about this?

Check back after 5 years if terrorist attacks have ended. Simple fact is that Afghanistan is 52% non-Pashtun. Add to that the fact that the Taliban are fanatics who can't get along with anyone else and Afghanistan is in for a protracted civil war which will regularly spill over to Pakistan as Pakistan has chosen to involve itself in Afghanistan forgetting that its #1 priority should be fixing its bankrupt economy.

 

[MenInG]

New Delhi: A day after the special envoy from Qatar revealed that Indian officials had “quietly” met Taliban representatives in Doha, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh demanded an immediate statement from the Union government and asked will the BJP IT cell take cognizance of this in the sedition category.

“The Government of India should make an immediate statement on this subject. Will BJP IT cell take cognizance of this in the sedition category,” said the former Madhya Pradesh CM in a tweet.

Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and President of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti also reacted to this development saying that if Indian authorities can go to Doha and talk to the Taliban then they can also hold a dialogue with Pakistan to bring about a resolution in J&K.

This statement from Singh comes after Mutlaq bin Majed al-Qahtani, who is a special envoy to the Qatari foreign minister, said India was engaging the Taliban not because they might take over Afghanistan but that they are an important part of the new political setup in the landlocked country.

‘Because Taliban is a key component of...’

“I understand that there has been a quiet visit by Indian officials... to speak with the Taliban... because Taliban is a key component of, or should be or is going to be a key component of the future of Afghanistan,” ToI quoted Al-Qahtani as saying during the webinar.

According to the ToI report, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is driving the engagement from the Indian side.

India never dealt with the Taliban directly; however, after the US exit, things may change.

Earlier MEA spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, said that India is in touch with various stakeholders in pursuance of its long-term commitments towards the development and reconstruction of Afghanistan.

50 out of Afghanistan's 370 districts have fallen to Taliban terrorists since May
Taliban is gaining the upper hand in Afghanistan, and according to United Nations' special envoy on Afghanistan, Deborah Lyon, Fifty out of Afghanistan's 370 districts have fallen to Taliban terrorists since May.

Lyons further said that most of the districts captured by the Taliban are those which surround provincial capitals indicating that once foreign forces are fully withdrawn, the Islamic fundamentalist terror outfit might try to capture these capitals.

Ever since the start of the US-led forces pullout on May 1, the Taliban has increased its activities in Afghanistan.

 

[gani999]

The Taliban of late has been quite reconciliatory towards India. Their spokesman recently spoke of the need to have a better relationship.

The Taliban and India are closer than people think.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

The Taliban of late has been quite reconciliatory towards India. Their spokesman recently spoke of the need to have a better relationship.

The Taliban and India are closer than people think.

That is good news. Better for the region that all parties try to deal with realities and with some form of co-operation, that is true whether it is Iran, Pakistan, India or Afghanistan.

 

[MenInG]

India on Thursday brushed aside the Pakistani leadership’s recent assertions about the Kashmir issue and India’s role in Afghanistan, and said Islamabad should focus on creating an atmosphere conducive to normal bilateral relations by taking action against terrorism.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi was responding to comments by Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi that India’s presence in Afghanistan is larger than it ought to be, and Prime Minister Imran Khan’s contention that both countries wouldn’t need nuclear weapons if they settled the Kashmir issue.

Referring to the remarks by Pakistan’s foreign minister on India’s role in Afghanistan, Bagchi said: “We firmly believe that it is for the Afghan people to decide their partners and the size of the partnership. India has brought electricity, dams, schools, health clinics, roads and community projects to Afghanistan. And the world knows what Pakistan has brought to Afghanistan.”

Indian officials have for long blamed Pakistan’s security establishment of having close links to terror groups active in Afghanistan, including the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Haqqani Network, a key faction of the Afghan Taliban.

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi stressed that it was “absolutely essential that our party plays an active role” to ensure full vaccination coverage and encourages people to register for the jabs (PTI)
After Sonia meeting, Congress firms up nationwide protest plan from July 7

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference leader Omar Abdullah and others during an all-party meeting with various political leaders from Jammu and Kashmir, at PM House, in New Delhi.

The BJP and TMC got involved in a tussle on Wednesday when Mukul Roy, who left the saffron camp and returned to the ruling party on June 11, filed his nomination for induction into the PAC. (PTI PHOTO.)
Mukul Roy eligible for assembly committee as BJP MLA, says Mamata Banerjee

Bagchi also dismissed the Pakistan prime minister’s comments on the Kashmir issue, saying: “Regarding developments in Jammu and Kashmir, this is clearly an internal matter for India.”

He added, “As far as our bilateral relations with Pakistan are concerned, our stand is well known. We desire normal relations with all our neighbours, including Pakistan. Pakistan must work towards creating a conducive atmosphere, including by taking credible, verifiable and irreversible actions to not allow any territory under its control to be used for cross-border terrorism against India in any manner.”

The spokesperson also responded to several questions on India’s position on the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and the reported outreach to Taliban factions and leaders amid the drawdown of US troops, which is likely to be completed well before the deadline of September set by the Biden administration.

“Our perspective on Afghanistan has been enunciated on various occasions. India supports all peace initiatives and has a long-term commitment towards development and reconstruction of Afghanistan,” Bagchi said.

“In this context, we remain in touch with various stakeholders, including regional countries,” he added.

Bagchi also referred to external affairs minister S Jaishankar’s statement at a UN Security Council debate on Afghanistan on Tuesday, saying it had laid out India’s concern at the upsurge in violence and the vision for Afghanistan’s future.

Without directly naming Pakistan, Jaishankar had called for zero tolerance for cross-border terrorism and also sought full transit rights for Afghanistan. He also called for a permanent ceasefire to end a surge in violence, including targeted attacks on women, minorities and civil society activists, and said India will welcome any move towards a genuine political settlement in Afghanistan.

 

[MenInG]

GWADAR: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said that once the United States withdraws from Afghanistan, the situation in the region will take a serious turn and India is going to be the "biggest loser."

Speaking to the media in Gwadar, he said that even the US itself is at a loss regarding what is going to happen next.

Ending its longest war abroad, the US has wrapped up its 20-year military offensive in Afghanistan and its military is in the process of completing a withdrawal from the country. They are set to complete their pullout well ahead of the September 11 deadline set by President Joe Biden.

"At the time, India faces the biggest problem in Afghanistan," said Imran Khan. "India has its billions of dollars invested in Afghanistan — a country where the situation is extremely intricate."

PM Imran Khan also said India is involved in terrorism, adding that there is clear-cut evidence indicating India's involvement in recent terrorism in Lahore.

Pakistan has a very clear standpoint in connection with Afghanistan and still stands by it, Imran Khan said.

"There is no military solution to the Afghan problem. The Afghan parties will decide the future of their country," he stressed.

Unless the world pays attention to Afghanistan, more bloodshed will ensue, he warned.

GEO

 

[MenInG]

New Delhi: Afghanistan has seen a fresh spell of violence erupt in the last few days, in the aftermath of the withdrawal of US-NATO troops from the country. Intense fighting has been reported from most parts of the country between the Afghan security forces and the Taliban fighters. Amid all the action in Afghanistan, the Taliban leadership has already begun reaching out to other countries for assistance in various sectors. Times Now spoke exclusively to Taliban Spokesperson and Member of Negotiations Team, Suhail Shaheen, over the ongoing situation in Afghanistan and the chances of potential talks between the Taliban leadership and the Indian government officials.

Hinting at an unwillingness to engage in talks with India, 'under current circumstances', Shaheen said that India should not take sides in the Afghan conflict.

"Indian government should remain impartial in the fighting which is ongoing in Afghanistan. They should not provide weapons to the Kabul administration. We are the people of Afghanistan and they are using these weapons against us. There are a lot of civilian casualties because of the bombardment and airstrikes and drone attacks," he said.

Shaheen further added, "In this situation, when India is siding with the Kabul administration, in terms of giving them weapons and assisting them financially against the people of Afghanistan. It has made any interaction between the two sides difficult. If that step is taken, and India maintains neutrality and impartiality in Afghanistan, It would be a great step towards future talks."

Describing the situation on ground in Afghanistan, Shaheen said that about 195-200 districts across Afghanistan have come under Taliban control 'voluntarily'.

"The ground situation in Afghanistan is that about 195-200 districts all over the country have come in the administration of Taliban. These districts have come under our control voluntarily. All the security forces of the Kabul administration stationed there joined our ranks and files on basis of their own concept. There is less violence but more victories for the Taliban (IEA)," he said.

When asked if it was always the intention of the Taliban leadership to take over the Afghan territory by force once the US-NATO troops leave from Afghanistan, Shaheen said, "No truth to there being a pre-formulated plan to take over the Afghan territory by force. Last Eid, we announced a 3-day unilateral ceasefire. But the Kabul administration thought it was because of our weakness. So they launched a huge offensive against our people in 3 provinces. When we reacted to their offensive, they were not able to defend their position, but rather started withdrawing from their military posts. That was the beginning of our taking districts all over the country."

He further went on to claim that the Afghan government has been making an effort to distort the ground reality in Afghanistan.

"Four months ago we proposed a reduction in violence. It was rejected by the Kabul administration. We want a peaceful solution to the Afghan issue. It is the only way to have an Afghan inclusive government in place, in the country that would bring about permanent peace and stability. A military takeover is not the only option, it is also not a good option in our view. We believe in a peaceful solution and for that reason, our team continues negotiation with the other side, in Doha. We are trying to reach a negotiated solution as soon as possible," Shaheen said.

When asked about the death of Indian photojournalist Danish Siddiqui, and the unconfirmed reports about his body being mutilated allegedly by Taliban fighters, Shaheen said, "Siddiqui had embedded with the Kabul security forces. It was not coordinated with us. Our forces did not know there is a journalist. If he had coordinated with us, it would have been better for his security. Mutilation of bodies is against the rules of Islam. His body was not mutilated. It is a baseless report."

On the subject of recent meetings with the Chinese authorities and whether any help was promised to the Taliban by China, the Taliban spokesperson said that due to the increase in the territory controlled by the Taliban, they would need assistance in many sectors, and China is willing to provide that assistance.

"China is a great neighbouring country. We have had relations with them for many years now. We have regular visits to China. We met with them to share the update on the latest developments in Afghanistan. We want their efforts for peace in Afghanistan to continue. Now that 85% of the Afghanistan territory is in our control, we need help in the health sector, for our people, help in agriculture and education sectors, not only from China but from other countries as well. China has offered their willingness to contribute to peace and reconciliation."

He further confirmed that the Chinese have agreed to provide COVID-related assistance to the Taliban. "Chinese help in combating COVID-19 was discussed and they promised that they will help."

When asked about the reports of Taliban fighters hurling a Pakistani flag alongside the Taliban flag at the Spin Boldak region, as a symbol of support, Shaheen rejected these claims and termed it 'misinformation spread by the Kabul administration'.

"Taliban fighters never raised Pakistan flag in the Spin Boldak area. This is wrong. It is the misinformation spread by the Kabul administration. They have been misleading the opinion of the world against us by releasing many fake stories and videos. This is not our true image."

He further added, "For the last 20 years that we have struggled and put up resistance against occupation, it was the people of Afghanistan, not any other country. Afghanistan and Pakistan are neighbouring countries like several others, we have relations as a neighbouring country with them because we are a landlocked country and our trade depends on either Iran and Pakistan. But to say that Pakistan influences us is totally wrong."

The situation in Afghanistan remains tense. Recent developments pointed at an alleged attack on the office of the United Nations in the Herat province where a security guard lost his life. The Afghan Govt's stand on the issue is that the people of their country do not want the return of the Taliban. Speaking to Times Now earlier this month, Afghan Ambassador to India Farid Mamundzay had said, "Saying that Taliban would be in a position to take over Kabul in 6-12 months is not a realistic assessment of the ground reality. The situation in Afghanistan is difficult, it's challenging, there is a lot of fight in several districts and several provinces, but the heroic patriotism of our security forces and the resilience of our people are there to defend the country. People do not want the return of the Emirates (Taliban)."

With the new spell of violence, it seems like the people of Afghanistan may well have to wait a little longer for the much-awaited peace.

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/...ovt-remains-neutral-in-afghan-conflict/793626

 

[MenInG]

Afghan security personnel Afghan security personnel | Photo Credit: AP
New Delhi: India has not been invited to a crucial meeting being convened by Russia on the fast-evolving situation in Afghanistan that is expected to see the participation of Pakistan, China and the US, people familiar with the development said on Thursday.

As the Taliban continues its offensive in Afghanistan, Russia has stepped up efforts to reach out to all key stakeholders in the war-torn country to stop the violence and push the Afghan peace process.

The 'extended Troika' meeting is scheduled to be held in Qatar on August 11. Talks under the format had earlier taken place on March 18 and April 30.

Russia has also been holding the 'Moscow Format' of talks to bring peace and creating conditions for the process of national reconciliation in Afghanistan.

Last month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in Tashkent that Russia will continue to work with India and other countries which can influence the situation in Afghanistan.

Following the comments, there was speculation that India may be included in the upcoming 'extended Trioka' meeting.

"We will continue working with the Americans in the extended Troika format as well as with all other countries that can influence the situation in Afghanistan, including our partners from Central Asia, India, Iran and the US," he had told reporters.

"We have a Moscow format that includes all the main players," Lavrov had said.

Though Russia has differences with the US on various dimensions of the Afghan conflict, both countries are now pushing for the intra-Afghan talks and to put an end to the widespread violence being perpetrated by the Taliban.

India is yet to comment on the upcoming extended Troika meeting.

Meanwhile, Afghan Ambassador to India Farid Mamundzay described as a positive development the decision to hold a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on August 6 to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.

India's ambassador to the UN TS Tirumurti announced that the UN Security Council will meet on Friday under Indian Presidency to discuss and take stock of the situation in Afghanistan.

"Convening an emergency UN Security Council Session on Afghanistan is a positive development. UN & international community must play a greater role to stop the unfolding tragedy in Afghanistan due to violence & atrocities by terrorists. Thank you India for the lead role as UNSC President," Mamundzay tweeted.

The decision to hold the UNSC meeting came two days after Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammed Hanif Atmar spoke to his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar on the convening of an emergency session of the UN Security Council to stop Taliban's violence.

India holds the presidency of the UNSC for the month of August.

The Taliban has been making rapid advances across Afghanistan by resorting to widespread violence since the United States began withdrawing its troops from the country on May 1. The US has already pulled back the majority of its forces and is looking to complete the drawdown by August 31.

India has been a major stakeholder in the peace and stability of Afghanistan. It has already invested nearly USD 3 billion in aid and reconstruction activities in the war-ravaged country.

India has been supporting a national peace and reconciliation process that is Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled. It has also been calling upon all sections of the political spectrum in Afghanistan to work together to meet the aspirations of all people in the country, including those from the minority communities, for a prosperous and safe future.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

Afghan security personnel Afghan security personnel | Photo Credit: AP
New Delhi: India has not been invited to a crucial meeting being convened by Russia on the fast-evolving situation in Afghanistan that is expected to see the participation of Pakistan, China and the US, people familiar with the development said on Thursday.

As the Taliban continues its offensive in Afghanistan, Russia has stepped up efforts to reach out to all key stakeholders in the war-torn country to stop the violence and push the Afghan peace process.

The 'extended Troika' meeting is scheduled to be held in Qatar on August 11. Talks under the format had earlier taken place on March 18 and April 30.

Russia has also been holding the 'Moscow Format' of talks to bring peace and creating conditions for the process of national reconciliation in Afghanistan.

Last month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in Tashkent that Russia will continue to work with India and other countries which can influence the situation in Afghanistan.

Following the comments, there was speculation that India may be included in the upcoming 'extended Trioka' meeting.

"We will continue working with the Americans in the extended Troika format as well as with all other countries that can influence the situation in Afghanistan, including our partners from Central Asia, India, Iran and the US," he had told reporters.

"We have a Moscow format that includes all the main players," Lavrov had said.

Though Russia has differences with the US on various dimensions of the Afghan conflict, both countries are now pushing for the intra-Afghan talks and to put an end to the widespread violence being perpetrated by the Taliban.

India is yet to comment on the upcoming extended Troika meeting.

Meanwhile, Afghan Ambassador to India Farid Mamundzay described as a positive development the decision to hold a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on August 6 to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.

India's ambassador to the UN TS Tirumurti announced that the UN Security Council will meet on Friday under Indian Presidency to discuss and take stock of the situation in Afghanistan.

"Convening an emergency UN Security Council Session on Afghanistan is a positive development. UN & international community must play a greater role to stop the unfolding tragedy in Afghanistan due to violence & atrocities by terrorists. Thank you India for the lead role as UNSC President," Mamundzay tweeted.

The decision to hold the UNSC meeting came two days after Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammed Hanif Atmar spoke to his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar on the convening of an emergency session of the UN Security Council to stop Taliban's violence.

India holds the presidency of the UNSC for the month of August.

The Taliban has been making rapid advances across Afghanistan by resorting to widespread violence since the United States began withdrawing its troops from the country on May 1. The US has already pulled back the majority of its forces and is looking to complete the drawdown by August 31.

India has been a major stakeholder in the peace and stability of Afghanistan. It has already invested nearly USD 3 billion in aid and reconstruction activities in the war-ravaged country.

India has been supporting a national peace and reconciliation process that is Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled. It has also been calling upon all sections of the political spectrum in Afghanistan to work together to meet the aspirations of all people in the country, including those from the minority communities, for a prosperous and safe future.

I don’t think Pakistan should participate. We should not have any say in the internal matters of Afghanistan. We don’t wanna be on the good or bad side of any infighting groups in Afghanistan. We must stay fully neutral.

It’s ironic that India who has been supplying weapons to one group in Afghanistan, thus being directly involved in the internal matters of Afghanistan is not even invited to this meeting.

Pakistan does not need to be schooled by Russia or whoever to play any role in Afghanistan. We are done!

We should have one motto, and that is, “we are out of it”.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan debunked Friday Afghan and Indian allegations about the existence of safe havens and cross-border movement of Taliban fighters as "mere fantasies", saying that the Pakistani government has fenced the Pak-Afghan border which is now closed.

At a press conference hours after the UN Security Council meeting, Ambassador Munir Akram, Pakistan's permanent representative to the United Nations, also criticised India, the council president for the month of August, for denying Pakistan the opportunity to address the 15-member body as a neighbouring country with a vital stake in peace in Afghanistan.

"We made a formal request for participation but it was denied," he told reporters at the UN Headquarters in New York. "Obviously, we do not expect fairness from the Indian presidency for Pakistan."

Akram said not inviting Pakistan to the UNSC meeting on Afghanistan violated Security Council rules.

Pakistan's complete statement will be will be circulated to the UNSC members, the Pakistani envoy said.

Related items
In UNSC meeting, Afghanistan seeks Pakistan's help in 'dismantling' Taliban
US should give Pakistan the importance it deserves: FM Qureshi
Pakistan cannot bear burden of more Afghan refugees: Moeed Yusuf
He said there were no terrorist safe havens left after Pakistani military's effective operations in Waziristan and other areas, and that the fencing of the border was now 97% complete to prevent cross-border movement.

Ambassador Akram also slammed regional “spoilers” who he said were attempting to derail the Afghan peace process.

He warned against spoilers, "both within and outside Afghanistan” against their machinations to promote their vested interests.

Ambassador Akram said that Pakistan was suffering from a spate of attacks from Tehreek-i-Pakistan and Da'esh terrorists from the Afghan territory. "So, the shoe is on the other foot."

The Pakistani envoy said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had consistently called for a political solution as the only way to restore durable peace and security in Afghanistan.

"Pakistan therefore welcomed the international consensus which has emerged that the best means of securing peace and stability is through a political solution negotiated between parties to the conflict," he said.

Pakistan has made earnest efforts to promote such a political settlement, Ambassador Akram said, pointing out that in 2015, a political settlement was scuttled by the deliberate revelation of the demise of the then Taliban leader Mullah Omar.

Pakistan, he said, was instrumental in bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table in 2019, and facilitated the conclusion of the US-Taliban agreement of February 2020.

"We helped convene the intra-Afghan negotiations in Doha in September 2020," he said while highlighting Pakistan's role in the peace process.

In UNSC meeting, Afghanistan seeks Pakistan's help in 'dismantling' Taliban
Pakistan should help Afghanistan in "dismantling" the Taliban for peace to prosper in the war-torn country, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the United Nations Ghulam M Isaczai had said Friday.

The Afghan ambassador's comments came during an open meeting of the UNSC on the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan.

The discussion was requested by the Afghan government, as well as Norway and Estonia. The Security Council last met on Afghanistan in June, but the situation in the conflict-ridden country has rapidly worsened since then.

Peace talks between the Afghan government and Taliban negotiators started last year in the Qatari capital of Doha, but have not made any substantive progress.

Isaczai, who represented Foreign Minister Haneef Atmar in the meeting, said the Taliban had launched brutal attacks which had caused further instability in the country.

"It is our job to stop it."

Taliban's ties to terrorists 'cannot be broken'

In recent days, the Taliban and their affiliated groups have launched more than 5,000 attacks in 31 of the 34 provinces, Isaczai said, slamming the group for going against the Doha peace deal.

The ambassador said the group had gone against the peace deal by not cutting off ties with international terrorist organisations.

"And their ties cannot be broken off," he alleged.

"Those who indulge and participate with them also reap the benefits," he said, adding the Taliban were "linked to 20 foreign terrorist organisations".

The Taliban are in contact with Al-Qaeda, Daesh, and Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan's militant organisations, the Afghan representative told the UNSC meeting.

"We request Pakistan to dismantle Taliban infrastructure and pipelines," Isaczai said, noting that Taliban attacks are intensifying with every passing day.

Afghanistan's UN envoy Isaczai urged the Security Council to act to "prevent a catastrophic situation."

https://www.geo.tv/latest/363960-in...n-violated-security-council-rules-munir-akram

 

[MenInG]

India has requested its citizens in and around Mazar-e-Sharif to board a special flight leaving for New Delhi on Tuesday evening as the Taliban is rapidly moving to seize the fourth largest city in Afghanistan. The Consulate General of India in Mazar-e-Sharif said Indian nationals who want to leave for New Delhi should immediately convey their name, passport number and other details through WhatsApp on two phone numbers.

“A special flight is leaving from Mazar-e-Sharif to New Delhi. Any Indian nationals in and around Mazar-e-Sharif are requested to leave for India in the special flight scheduled to depart late today evening,” the official Twitter handle for Consulate General of India, Mazar-e-Sharif posted.

As the American and Nato forces finalise their pullout, the Taliban has intensified its offensive and started to seize provincial capitals after taking over large swaths of rural Afghanistan.

While the international community is trying to get the Taliban back on the negotiating table, the militants of the Islamist fundamentalist group has started targeting top Afghan government officials in Kabul, showing no willingness to strike a deal with various stakeholders in the war-torn country. The US state department said that special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad will visit Doha to help formulate "a joint international response to the rapidly deteriorating situation in Afghanistan."

The United States has also urged its nationals to immediately leave Afghanistan on any available commercial flight. The US embassy in Kabul said last week that its ability to assist Americans in Afghanistan is extremely limited due to the security conditions and reduced staffing, especially outside Kabul.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/worl...arif-as-taliban-advances-101628586237259.html

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

More and more Indian cells, that are directly responsible for terrorism in Pakistan, are having to jump ship and flee.

Refreshing to read!

 

[Lonewarrior]

i told this to joshila 2 yrs ago, that start packing your bags ....

 

[Manunited18]

i told this to joshila 2 yrs ago, that start packing your bags ....

Pack your bags! More like get out of there or else your dead meat!

 

[MenInG]

New Delhi: S Jaishankar, India’s Minister for External Affairs, has said that India and America’s interests may not be perfectly aligned over the volatile situation currently prevailing in Afghanistan, with the Taliban having captured more than half the country’s territory and known to be marching towards the capital Kabul. In February 2020, the United States and the Taliban signed a peace agreement in Doha in Qatar, with the US expected to vacate its troops from Afghanistan by September 11 this year, after intervened militarily in the country two decades ago.

India has backed the intra-Afghan negotiations, though has expressed concern over the violence involving the Taliban in its capture of one provincial capital after another. Taliban’s inroads have prompted a seemingly besieged Afghan government in Kabul to offer a power-sharing arrangement to the Taliban, but it remains to be seen if the Taliban negotiates from what many perceive to be a position of strength.

“We clearly have much more overlaps of interest with the United States east of India which is why the Indo-Pacific allows for a platform like the QUAD,” Jaishankar told Times Now’s Editor-in-Chief Rahul Shivshankar in an exclusive interview at the channel’s Freedom Summit on Independence Day. “But, when it comes to Afghanistan, I think we have watched a lot of these decisions with a great deal of concern. Unfortunately, all that we’ve been seeing for the last few days have realized many of those fears.”

Last month, Jaishankar met the Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammed Haneef Atmar in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Foreign Ministers and SCO Contact Group on Afghanistan meetings. Earlier this month, India was not a participant in a meeting convened by Russia, also involving the United States, Pakistan, and China, on the evolving situation in Afghanistan. When asked about this, Jaishankar said, “It is not my case that we are perfectly aligned with Russia on Afghanistan and how to handle those set of issues. There are areas where they have their perspectives and their assessments and we have ours. I should say at the same time that we are not perfectly aligned with the Americans either. That will happen. And that is what makes foreign policy today such a hard-headed exercise.”

India’s concerns in Afghanistan are not merely its investments in the development of the war-torn country, but that Afghanistan could potentially develop into a safe sanctuary for anti-India terrorists as well. Pakistan was among the first countries to recognize the Taliban regime when it came to power in the 1990s, and has been widely seen to be supportive of their surge in Afghanistan now.

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/...fghanistan-being-realised-s-jaishankar/799335

 

[OMB]

Taliban asks India to finish infrastructure projects

However, last week, the external affairs ministry clarified India has no role once the projects are completed and it would be up to the Afghan people to protect them.

Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen has said they will not allow Afghanistan’s soil to be used against any other country and called on India to complete the infrastructure projects if New Delhi wished. “We will not allow any country or any group to use the soil of Afghanistan against anyone. This is clear. India has made projects, many reconstruction and infrastructure projects, and if they want, they can complete the incomplete projects because they are for the people,” Shaheen told a Pakistani news channel in Urdu. His remarks are the first after the Taliban seized power in Kabul on Monday.

New Delhi has hinted that it has opened channels of communication with the Taliban but is officially yet to recognise the group. India had recently withdrew all professionals working on development projects in 34 provinces of Afghanistan. India has a total investment of about $3 billion in the war-torn country and many important projects like the Shatoot Dam, Salma Dam, Afghanistan’s Parliament and many strategic roads have been built with Indian assistance.

However, last week, the external affairs ministry clarified India has no role once the projects are completed and it would be up to the Afghan people to protect them. Meanwhile, the Taliban spokesperson said the group’s policy does not allow if anyone wants to use Afghan soil for their objectives or for their military objectives or for their rivalries.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2021/aug/18/taliban-asks-india-to-finish-infra-projects-2346274.html

 

[Braveheart]

At the moment, the noises coming out of India are referring to the Taliban as 'Terrorists', 'Pakistan Trained Terrorists' and ‘Islamic Terrorists'.
I've no doubt that the Indian 'Leech mentality' will eventually prevail and they'll 'get into bed' with the Taliban and further engineer terror operations to de-stabilise Pakistan.

 

[Lonewarrior]

India sent weapons and amunation and expected to see bloodshed between taliban and ghani govt but it didnt happend and kabul gt fall easily without any bloodshed.

now heard from social media about emerging of some sort of northern alliance under the ex-vc amarullah saleh ,
but almost every neighbour has accepted Taliban regime, except India ,,,, so if northern alliance gt amunation or any kind of help from India thn Taliban will make it difficult for India in future ....

India should stay away from afghanistan for the sake of thre common people .....

 

[Greenstorm]

i told this to joshila 2 yrs ago, that start packing your bags ....

Same. I used to tell Indians that Taliban are a reality in Afghanistan and they will be back. Indians used to laugh but who is laughing now.

 

[the Great Khan]

Same. I used to tell Indians that Taliban are a reality in Afghanistan and they will be back. Indians used to laugh but who is laughing now.

I still remember a post on another forum in 2005 when gulbuddin decided to go against the govt, and I said Pakistan had just won the afghan war. I was laughed at by Indians.

One thing all the youngsters on here need to understand is that some things take time. Strategy is for 40 years not 4. Unfortunately the current Indian regime thinks in months not years hence why they seem to be humiliated at every turn.

We will take our pound of flesh for the killings they inflicted on pakistan that effected every pakistani be they overseas or at home.

 

[street cricketer]

At the moment, the noises coming out of India are referring to the Taliban as 'Terrorists', 'Pakistan Trained Terrorists' and ‘Islamic Terrorists'.
I've no doubt that the Indian 'Leech mentality' will eventually prevail and they'll 'get into bed' with the Taliban and further engineer terror operations to de-stabilise Pakistan.

Oh sure... We've got the next excuse prepared already. "India's going to ally with the Taliban now and cause terrorism
in Pakistan".

Maybe if the previous Pak leaders spent less time in training people in madrassas in the tribal areas while brainwashing them on fundamentalist and radical versions of Islam to achieve their geopolitical goals, and spent more time in actually educating them and improving the literacy of the region, not many blokes would be so excited about the prospect of blowing himself up to punish the people who they think are "munafiqs" and "apostates". "It is always the outsider who's responsible for our woes and we are suffering for no fault of our country".

 

[Greenstorm]

Oh sure... We've got the next excuse prepared already. "India's going to ally with the Taliban now and cause terrorism
in Pakistan".

Maybe if the previous Pak leaders spent less time in training people in madrassas in the tribal areas while brainwashing them on fundamentalist and radical versions of Islam to achieve their geopolitical goals, and spent more time in actually educating them and improving the literacy of the region, not many blokes would be so excited about the prospect of blowing himself up to punish the people who they think are "munafiqs" and "apostates". "It is always the outsider who's responsible for our woes and we are suffering for no fault of our country".

Don't worry. India can never ally with the Taliban.

 

[street cricketer]

Don't worry. India can never ally with the Taliban.

Well I hope so..Else India's going to be blamed for all of Pakistan's problems even after the eviction of India from Afghanistan.

 

[IAJ]

Oh sure... We've got the next excuse prepared already. "India's going to ally with the Taliban now and cause terrorism
in Pakistan".

Maybe if the previous Pak leaders spent less time in training people in madrassas in the tribal areas while brainwashing them on fundamentalist and radical versions of Islam to achieve their geopolitical goals, and spent more time in actually educating them and improving the literacy of the region, not many blokes would be so excited about the prospect of blowing himself up to punish the people who they think are "munafiqs" and "apostates". "It is always the outsider who's responsible for our woes and we are suffering for no fault of our country".

You keep blaming Islam in many posts of yours. There is only one Islam, how people practise it or what terms west are giving to it seem unfortunately to be the understnading of Islam for non-muslims.

Had muslim countries followed true teachings of Islam, they probably would have not been in mess they are in. All muslims countries are full o f corrupion, looting, nepotism and these are complete opposite of what Islam teaches, so how can Islam be blamed for this?

All I am saying, you need to differenciate between what Islam teaches and how certain people behave or even interprets it. The majority of muslims are peace-loving people.

And coming back to India and Taliban, which is part of the topic her, I have followed one of your biggest news channels and that channel is probably the most pro-Modi channel in India. At the moment they are spreading many false news about Taliban, calling them the worst terrorists etc. And on the other hand the indian gov. are desperate to hold talks with Taliban. Let's see with the time if India recognizes the Taliban or not and what stance the channel will take against their master Modi if India do start talking with them. At the moment the stance is you never talk to terrorists.

 

[street cricketer]

You keep blaming Islam in many posts of yours. There is only one Islam, how people practise it or what terms west are giving to it seem unfortunately to be the understnading of Islam for non-muslims.

Had muslim countries followed true teachings of Islam, they probably would have not been in mess they are in. All muslims countries are full o f corrupion, looting, nepotism and these are complete opposite of what Islam teaches, so how can Islam be blamed for this?

All I am saying, you need to differenciate between what Islam teaches and how certain people behave or even interprets it. The majority of muslims are peace-loving people.

And coming back to India and Taliban, which is part of the topic her, I have followed one of your biggest news channels and that channel is probably the most pro-Modi channel in India. At the moment they are spreading many false news about Taliban, calling them the worst terrorists etc. And on the other hand the indian gov. are desperate to hold talks with Taliban. Let's see with the time if India recognizes the Taliban or not and what stance the channel will take against their master Modi if India do start talking with them. At the moment the stance is you never talk to terrorists.

1. I never blamed Islam in any of my posts. Religions do not cause extremism. Religion is like any other ideology like communism or capitalism. But any ideology, if interpreted in the harshest manner possible, will result in violence. Hindutva is an extreme interpretation of Hinduism by hindutvadis. Similarly there are some muslim fundamentalists who interpret Islam in a very harsh manner, that doesn't mean I'm blaming Islam. Rather, I'm blaming the manner in which those people interpret that religion. There are many peace loving hindus and muslims. But to deny that there are people who interpret their religions in a very harsh manner is naive.

The problem is many hindus and muslims become defensive whenever someone talks about hindutva or fundamentalist Islam and think people are blaming their religion when they're merely criticising the manner in which the said people interpret their religions.

2. I don't follow any of Indian news channels. Most are heavily biased in favour of hindutva with the exception of few. That said, India in general has a good name amongst the Afghan civilians as it's the highest regional donor in terms of reconstruction and infrastructure aid, and has built a dam, a parliament and numerous schools and hospitals. There are furthermore many projects that are still incomplete and I heard the Taliban saying that India is welcome to complete those projects. I don't think the current Taliban and India will ever be friendly, as there has been some past history of friction between the two (the Taliban helping the terrorists who hijacked an Indian flight once, etc).

Afghanistan has always been unstable and it has always seen power change. It remains to be seen how long the current Taliban will remain in power. I'm not sure if India will recognise the Taliban or not, but hopefully it completes the infrastructure projects that will be beneficial for the Afghan civilians because at the end of the day, whether Afghanistan is under Ghani or Karzai or Dostum or the Taliban, it is the Afghan people who are going to benefit from schools, hospitals and dams being built.

 

[OMB]

Foreign Minister Asked If India Is In Touch With Taliban. His Reply

"At this point of time, we are looking at the evolving situation in Kabul... as Taliban and its representatives have come to Kabul and I think we need to take it from there," Dr S Jaishankar said when asked whether India has had any communication with Taliban in the recent days.

India is following the events in Afghanistan "very carefully" and the focus is on ensuring the security and safe return of Indian nationals who are still in the war-torn country, Foreign Minister Dr S Jaishankar told reporters in New York on Wednesday. Asked how India views and deals with the Taliban leadership, he said it is still "early days", not offering direct comment on whether or not India was in touch with the Taliban.
"At this point of time, we are looking at the evolving situation in Kabul... as Taliban and its representatives have come to Kabul and I think we need to take it from there," he added when asked whether India has had any communication with Taliban in the recent days.

Asked whether India will continue its investments and engagement in Afghanistan, the minister said the "historical relationship with the Afghan people" continues. "

That will guide our approach in the coming days. I think at this time, these are early days and our focus on safety and security of the Indian nationals who are there," he added.

Addressing reporters after a meeting of the UN Security Council, Dr Jaishankar said the situation in Afghanistan is "really what has been very much the focus of my own engagements here, talking to the UN Secretary General and other colleagues who are here as well as the US Secretary of State."

"At the moment we are, like everybody else, very carefully following developments in Afghanistan. I think our focus is on ensuring the security in Afghanistan and the safe return of Indian nationals who are there," he said.

India has assured that it would repatriate Hindu and Sikhs from Afghanistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also said that the country will stand by its friends and allies in the war torn country, which many are desperate to leave.

On Tuesday, India evacuated the last of its staff from the embassy in Kabul including the ambassador and the Indo-Tibetan Border Policepersonnel who were in charge of security. The pullout took place amid curfew declared by Taliban, which made took over Kabul on Sunday.

Dr Jaishankar had reached New York on Monday for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation in Afghanistan. India - a non-permanent member of the Security Council - holds its Presidency for this month.

This was the second time in 10 days that the UN body met to discuss the situation in the war-torn country.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/foreign-minister-s-jaishankar-asked-if-india-is-in-touch-with-taliban-his-reply-2513739

 

[OMB]

Taliban stop exports, imports from India

India has long-standing relations with Afghanistan, especially in trade. India has a large investment in Afghanistan.
Taliban officialsTaliban officials arrange a Taliban flag | Photo Credit: AP

The Taliban have stopped all imports and exports with India after entering Kabul and taking over the country on Sunday.

Dr Ajay Sahai, Director General (DG) of Federation of Indian Export Organisation (FIEO) told ANI that currently, the Taliban has stopped the movement of cargo through the transit routes of Pakistan, thereby stopping imports from the country.

"We keep a close watch on developments in Afghanistan. Imports from there come through the transit route of Pakistan. As of now, the Taliban has stopped the movement of cargo to Pakistan, so virtually imports have stopped," FIEO DG told ANI.

India has long-standing relations with Afghanistan, especially in trade. India has a large investment in Afghanistan.

"In fact, we are one of the largest partners of Afghanistan and our exports to Afghanistan are worth around USD 835 million for 2021. We imported goods worth around USD 510 Million. But besides the trade, we have a sizeable investment in Afghanistan. We have invested around USD 3 billion in Afghanistan and there are 400-odd projects in Afghanistan some of which are currently going on," Sahai said.

"...Some of the goods are exported from international north-south transport corridor route which is fine now. Some of the goods go through Dubai route also which is working," he added.

Sahai said India has healthy relations with Afghanistan in trade. Currently, Indian export profile includes sugar, pharmaceuticals, apparel, tea, coffee, spices and transmission towers. "Imports are related and largely dependent on dry fruits. We also import a little gum and onions from them," FIEO DG said.

Despite the fast-evolving situation in Afghanistan, FIEO DG is hopeful and optimistic about trade relations with Afghanistan.

"I am pretty sure over a period of time Afghanistan will also realise that economic development is the only way to move forward and they will continue with that kind of trade. I think the new regime will like to have political legitimacy and for that India's role will become important for them also," DG FIEO told ANI.

Federation of India Export Organisation expressed concern that in coming days dry fruit prices may go up due to the turmoil in Afghanistan. India is importing around 85 per cent of dry fruits from Afghanistan.

"I will say that may not directly impact the prices but the very fact that one of the sources of import no longer exists, speculation of increase in prices is not ruled out," Sahai said.

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/taliban-stop-exports-imports-from-india/800907

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has no objection to India and Afghanistan developing cordial relations, said Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, clarifying that Islamabad was not focusing on any one particular group in Afghanistan.

In a statement issued on the current situation in Afghanistan Monday, the foreign minister said the Indian media made a fuss over his 'visit' to Kabul and reported "irresponsibly" on it.

He called out the Indian media for not confirming facts before reporting on anything. "I did not go to Kabul, but held important meetings on Afghanistan in Pakistan," Qureshi clarified.

The foreign minister said he had a discussion with the EU foreign policy chief yesterday (Sunday), in which he was briefed over Pakistan's assistance in Kabul.

In addition to this, the FM said he will visit Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran and has already spoken to China on the matter.

"Afghanistan is a multi-ethnic country. There are Pashtuns and people of other ethnicities there. The government that has emerged in Afghanistan should be one that is broad-based and inclusive," he emphasised.

He further said that Pakistan and the neighbouring countries of the region want peace and stability in Afghanistan but anti-peace forces and "spoilers" are still active in Afghanistan.

"India has to give up its shallow thinking. We do not object to India's good relations with Afghanistan. Our focus in Afghanistan is not on a single group," he said.

Last week, Pakistan had taken exception to its efforts to evacuate people out of Afghanistan "not being acknowledged" by the international community.

FM Qureshi, speaking to Al Jazeera, had said Pakistan is engaged in evacuation missions in Kabul which is an immediate challenge for the international community.

The Pakistan Embassy in Kabul is working round the clock with planes flying into the city and getting people out, including diplomatic personnel and staff of international organisations, he had said.

“Are we being acknowledged? No. We are not even being mentioned in the list of countries that are helping evacuate people," he regretted.

GEO

 

[Bewal Express]

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has no objection to India and Afghanistan developing cordial relations, said Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, clarifying that Islamabad was not focusing on any one particular group in Afghanistan.

In a statement issued on the current situation in Afghanistan Monday, the foreign minister said the Indian media made a fuss over his 'visit' to Kabul and reported "irresponsibly" on it.

He called out the Indian media for not confirming facts before reporting on anything. "I did not go to Kabul, but held important meetings on Afghanistan in Pakistan," Qureshi clarified.

The foreign minister said he had a discussion with the EU foreign policy chief yesterday (Sunday), in which he was briefed over Pakistan's assistance in Kabul.

In addition to this, the FM said he will visit Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran and has already spoken to China on the matter.

"Afghanistan is a multi-ethnic country. There are Pashtuns and people of other ethnicities there. The government that has emerged in Afghanistan should be one that is broad-based and inclusive," he emphasised.

He further said that Pakistan and the neighbouring countries of the region want peace and stability in Afghanistan but anti-peace forces and "spoilers" are still active in Afghanistan.

"India has to give up its shallow thinking. We do not object to India's good relations with Afghanistan. Our focus in Afghanistan is not on a single group," he said.

Last week, Pakistan had taken exception to its efforts to evacuate people out of Afghanistan "not being acknowledged" by the international community.

FM Qureshi, speaking to Al Jazeera, had said Pakistan is engaged in evacuation missions in Kabul which is an immediate challenge for the international community.

The Pakistan Embassy in Kabul is working round the clock with planes flying into the city and getting people out, including diplomatic personnel and staff of international organisations, he had said.

“Are we being acknowledged? No. We are not even being mentioned in the list of countries that are helping evacuate people," he regretted.

GEO

We must make sure Ind never has any foothold in Afghanistan ever again. We owe to 1000s dead that they have no proxies or can launch any attack on PK from Afghanistan. If we don't so that, we have failed in Afg policy

 

[loves_cricket]

Unfortunately india took gsmble and lost, but it will not make much bigger issue as we are not linked by borders.
It will be very interesting to see how unstable and undemocratic Afghanistan effects others in region

 

[Lonewarrior]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Situation of Pakistan and China right now &#55358;&#56688;&#55356;&#56821;&#55356;&#56816;&#55356;&#56808;&#55356;&#56819;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a> <a href="https://t.co/vMAOBc1UJJ">pic.twitter.com/vMAOBc1UJJ</a></p>— Rising Pakistan &#55356;&#56821;&#55356;&#56816; (@Pakcoalition) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pakcoalition/status/1430074577942585348?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Situation of Pakistan and China right now &#55358;&#56688;&#55356;&#56821;&#55356;&#56816;&#55356;&#56808;&#55356;&#56819;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a> <a href="https://t.co/vMAOBc1UJJ">pic.twitter.com/vMAOBc1UJJ</a></p>— Rising Pakistan &#55356;&#56821;&#55356;&#56816; (@Pakcoalition) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pakcoalition/status/1430074577942585348?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Lol. This is an epic photo. Historic.

Sheikh Rashid is a true boss!